Yard operations

[NW Modeling List]

At 09:46 AM 9/3/2007, you wrote:

>My questions:

>

>1. Do the mainlines go to the outside of the yard track, or snake 

>thru the middle?

>2. Should the yard be 2 separate mini yards next to each other, one 

>east, one west?


Mark,

Generally the main line tracks run outside the yard. Sometimes east 
and westbound mains are on the same side of the yard, sometimes they 
split with one on each side. There are exceptions to this rule. One 
through track in Roanoke runs north of the yard on the east end and 
then crosses over to the south side on the west.

Eastbound and westbound yards are typically end-to-end, not 
side-by-side. In Bluefield for example, each yard drapes off the peak 
of the ridge so the outgoing trains will be headed downhill for an 
easier start. Some yards chiefly handle traffic in only one direction 
such as coal loads headed east. The hump at Roanoke primarily sorts 
eastbound traffic. Westbound traffic gets sorted at points further 
west such as Portsmouth, OH.

My advice for you would be to investigate the specific yard you are 
modeling and use its design as a starting point for your layout.

Ron Davis